Adult store owner says he would move from Mishawaka

But he wants city to find him new location.

But he wants city to find him new location.

April 19, 2007|SUE LOWE Tribune Staff Writer

MISHAWAKA -- Ed Balanow says he would move Pleasureland Museum, an adult bookstore, if the city would find him a new location. Mayor Jeff Rea said he doesn't think the city is interested in doing that. Balanow disagreed with a remark made Monday by Laura Wagley, the city's redevelopment director, that city representatives met with bookstore owners about the city buying the property. He said instead that his lawyer contacted Rea and told the mayor the business would be moved if the city finds them a new place. "The city never came to me and talked to me," said Balanow, who owns the store with his mother, Shirlee Balanow. Rea agreed that Balanow's lawyer contacted him. The mayor said the lawyer "may have mentioned relocating the business." But, Rea said, the other businesses in the block that sold property to the city found their own new locations. So the city isn't going to find a new location for Balanow, according to the mayor. Rea said earlier that all of the other business owners approached the city offering to sell because of new condominiums that will be built on the other side of Mishawaka Avenue. Rea said he told Balanow's lawyer what the city would pay for the property based on what was paid for the other property in the block. He didn't hear back from the lawyer, he said. The city removed the parking lot that used to be behind all the Mishawaka Avenue businesses because, Rea said, there just weren't that many people using it. Plans are to build new houses in the vacant property on the block. Common Council member John Gleissner, D-at large, said Monday night the adult bookstore might make it harder to sell condominiums planned for the south side of the street. Balanow doesn't agree. "My store is a good-looking store," he said. "There's nothing wrong with it. I don't think anybody would object to it. It's perfectly legal." Staff writer Sue Lowe: slowe@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6557